WIAA Salutes 32 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients, Includes Grimm(Pittsville) Tubbs(Stratford) Scheer(Columbus Catholic) Weiler(Owen-Withee) Shaw(Assumption)
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association has selected the 16 senior boys and 16 senior girls to receive the prestigious, statewide 2025 Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by the We Energies Foundation and the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation.
To determine the top 32 award recipients, four boys and four girls were selected based on both athletic and academic achievement from each of the four WIAA divisions. This year, 806 seniors were nominated for the award by 415 high schools throughout the state. More than 1,245 Scholar-Athlete recipients have been recognized since the program began in 1984.
“Each of these outstanding student-athletes has excelled in academics and athletics,” WIAA Executive Director Stephanie Hauser said. “Twenty-one of this year’s 32 Scholar-Athlete finalists have maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA.
“Together they hold an impressive cumulative GPA of 3.97. Collectively, they’ve already earned 306 varsity letters–an average of 9.56 per athlete–with spring sports still underway,” she continued. “Their dedication both in the classroom and in competition is inspiring.”
The 2025 WIAA Scholar-Athlete recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Sunday, May 4 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point. The keynote speaker will be Mike “Jocko’ Jacques, an award-winning, Emmy-nominated journalist and Wisconsin native.
Of interest this year, both Arrowhead and West Salem High Schools produced two WIAA Scholar-Athletes. Jacquelyn Cox and John Kubisch represent Arrowhead, and Kyle Hehli and Megan Johnson are from West Salem. Additionally, four individuals received the first Scholar-Athlete Award in their school’s history, including Isaac Scheer of Columbus Catholic High School, Molly Duel of Laconia High School, Ben Krauklis of Lakeside Lutheran High School and Kate Schmoll of West De Pere High School.
A live stream of the awards program will be available on the websites of the State Television Network stations, including WXOW-TV, WQOW-TV, WAOW-TV, WKOW-TV, WVTV and WCWF at approximately 1:20 p.m. on May 4. A delayed telecast of the ceremony will be aired on a future date. More information is available on the WIAA’s website.
For more information on the Scholar-Athlete Award and biographies of the recipients, access the Scholar-Athlete homepage on the WIAA website.
2025 WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients
Below is a list that includes scholar-athlete’s name, hometown and the high school they attend.
DIVISION 1 – BOYS
John Kubisch, Hartland, Arrowhead High School
Ryan Lang, Sheboygan, Sheboygan North High School
Paolo Pagnucci, Superior, Superior High School
Ray Pember, Menomonie, Menomonie High School
DIVISION 1 – GIRLS
Mackenzie Babcock, Cottage Grove, Monona Grove High School
Jacquelyn Cox, Hartland, Arrowhead High School
Ella Opie, Pewaukee, Pewaukee High School
Kate Schmoll, De Pere, West De Pere High School
DIVISION 2 – BOYS
Layne Aurit, Dodgeville, Dodgeville High School
Jack Hefty, Delavan, Whitewater High School
Kyle Hehli, West Salem, West Salem High School
Ben Krauklis, Lake Mills, Lakeside Lutheran High School
DIVISION 2 – GIRLS
Megan Johnson, La Crosse, West Salem High School
Hailie Krueger, New London, New London High School
Ellie Schiszik, Elk Mound, Elk Mound High School
Addison Schliewe, Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan Falls High School
DIVISION 3 – BOYS
Blake Thiry, Prairie du Chien, Prairie du Chien High School
Jacob Thornton, La Crosse, Aquinas High School
Jack Tubbs, Stratford, Stratford High School
Jack Schmeling, Holmen, Luther High School
DIVISION 3 – GIRLS
Molly Duel, Eldorado, Laconia High School
Reese Grimm, Arpin, Pittsville High School
Lexi Kuffel, Rice Lake, Cameron High School
Ellen Robinson, Mineral Point, Mineral Point High School
DIVISION 4 – BOYS
Jesse DeBauch, Coleman, Gillett High School
Oliver Post, Potosi, Potosi High School
Isaac Scheer, Marshfield, Columbus Catholic High School
Jared Schultz, Gordon, Northwood High School
DIVISION 4 – GIRLS
Kamdan Johnson, Florence, Florence High School
Sarah Shaw, Port Edwards, Assumption High School
Emily Sorensen, Harvard, Faith Christian High School
Kendall Weiler, Owen, Owen-Withee High School
The WIAA, as defined by its Constitution, is a private, voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The membership oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 513 senior high schools and 36 junior high/middle level schools in its membership.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at keechertheteacher@gmail.com
